Ebay scam - watch out!

Weaver · December 30, 2015, 07:50:26 AM

I sold quite a lot of kits on ebay at the weekend. A few people havn't paid me yet, and when I sent one a couple of invocies, he came back asking me to cancel them since he'd had a phone call from 'me' claiming that the item wasn't available and offering an alternative!

No such phone call came from me, and I've urged him to send details, report it Ebay and assured him that the item is still available. Obviously somebody is either running a scam or at least trying to disrupt other peoples' transactions, so if you've got mysterious non-payers, ask them if they've had a phone call and watch yourself!

PR19_Kit · December 30, 2015, 08:17:14 AM

How did 'you' know his phone no. anyway?

Weaver · December 30, 2015, 08:54:52 AM

That's what I'd like to know...

Waiting with baited breath for his response.

Zaskar24 · December 30, 2015, 03:14:54 PM

Or they won and did not want it afterwards. Or forgot they put a bid on it. I have heard a few such from buyers on ebay unfortunately.

Weaver · December 31, 2015, 10:10:54 AM

Buyer got back to me: guy called on Boxing Day offering a Canberra instead. He's declined that and bought a Javelin (my auction) from somebody else now, so I've cancelled the sale. Don't know if I'll get my insertion-fee back: probably not...

The buyer didn't get any call details so there's sod-all Ebay can do about it. All very frustrating!

Captain Canada · December 31, 2015, 11:45:57 AM

Weird.

zenrat · January 01, 2016, 02:34:24 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 30, 2015, 08:17:14 AM
How did 'you' know his phone no. anyway?

In the "old days" before they hid peoples identities it might have been feasible that someone would recognise a buyer they had had previous dealings with. But now they hide identities.
It shows how evil-bays alleged security is still the complete crock of pooh it was when they allowed other sellers to charge stuff to my credit card and then tried to ban me when I refused to pay.

All it takes to catch the culprit however is for someone to take him up on his offer then they will have his details and then we can "send the boys round". So it's not exactly a very well thought through scam.

Weaver · January 01, 2016, 06:28:26 AM

Quote from: zenrat on January 01, 2016, 02:34:24 AM
Quote from: PR19_Kit on December 30, 2015, 08:17:14 AM
How did 'you' know his phone no. anyway?

In the "old days" before they hid peoples identities it might have been feasible that someone would recognise a buyer they had had previous dealings with. But now they hide identities.
It shows how evil-bays alleged security is still the complete crock of pooh it was when they allowed other sellers to charge stuff to my credit card and then tried to ban me when I refused to pay.

All it takes to catch the culprit however is for someone to take him up on his offer then they will have his details and then we can "send the boys round". So it's not exactly a very well thought through scam.

Prsumably he would also have had to ask the buyer to make different payment arrangements, otherwise they'd have paid MY account for his Canberra. Can't see many buyers being that gullible, but you never know. I suspect it was someone who was also selling a Javelin, got pissed off that I got the sale rather than him and realised he could screw it for me. The idea that he'd already dealt with the seller is the only way I can imagine him getting their phone number.